Important:
The following countries are subject to travel ban. In general, international students from these countries cannot receive or use F-1 visas to enter the U.S.A.
Afghanistan, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burma, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Cote D’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Gabon, Gambia, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Palestinian Travel Authority Document Travel, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Venezuela, Yemen, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
- The travel ban does not apply to dual nationals.
- If you are currently in the U.S.A. with an active I-20, you will be able to transfer your I-20 to NMSU.
- Certain students may still be permitted to obtain an F-1 visa and enter the U.S.A. despite the travel ban.
- Applicants must demonstrate they pose no security or public safety risk, and provide compelling reasons why their entry would serve U.S.A. national interests, such as significant public benefit, involvement in critical projects, possessing specialized academic and research skills, etc.
- Waivers may be granted on a case-by-case basis if travel is deemed to serve a critical U.S.A. national interest, as determined by the Attorney General, Secretary of State, or Secretary of Homeland Security.
- This determination is highly discretionary, with U.S.A. Embassies or Consulates deciding whether admitting an individual would specifically benefit U.S.A. and issuing a F visa.
Step 1: Visit the Academic Graduate Program Website
Learn about about the various Graduate Programs. Identify the graduate coordinator and their contact information.
Please ensure you have chosen a specific degree program for your graduate study with NMSU; international students are not able to attend as Undeclared, Non-Degree-seeking, or be admitted to Graduate Certificate only, or initially to Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs.
Step 2: Mark Application Deadlines
For International Students:
The default application deadline for the Fall semester is June 1 or as specified by Departments, whichever is earlier. For the Spring semester, it is October 1 for the main campus programs and November 27 for Global programs, or an earlier date as indicated by the department. These deadlines are mainly for international students from countries other than Canada and Mexico.
While the deadlines are indicated above, submitting all materials ahead of the deadline is strongly recommended to allow for visa appointments to be made on time for international students coming from select countries where visa appointments have long wait time.
Please visit the Graduate Programs page to see the international deadlines for each program. As separate departments may have different deadlines, please ensure that you apply by the specific graduate program’s deadline date. The Graduate School cannot guarantee that an application will be processed if received after the deadline.
For Domestic Students:
Deadlines vary by the Department. Please visit the Graduate Programs and Departmental website to learn more.
Step 3: Know the Admission Process
Please visit the admissions page for information regarding the application review process. The Graduate School generally offers admission to international students for Fall and Spring semesters only. See academic departments for programs that enroll students in the summer.
Step 4: Check Eligibility
Learn about English proficiency requirements and Transcript Requirements.
Step 5: Apply and get Admitted
Please follow the instructions at institution’s application.
Step 6: Collect the I-20
Find out the I-20 process and requirements. For questions about the I-20 process, please contact International Students and Scholar Services.
Step 7: Apply for a Student Visa
You must get a student visa to study in the U.S. See the checklist and timeline.
Step 8: Enter the U.S.
Get your plate ticket, passport, student visa, and other documents.
Step 9: Prepare for Life at NMSU
Know about many other tips such as nearby hospitals, pharmacies, grocery stores, transportation, health insurance, orientation, and course registration. Also, plan about getting the Social Security Number.
